STEVENAGE 0 BRADFORD CITY 1

GARY Bowyer has been on to his side to score more from corners.

But the set-piece settler at Stevenage came from an unexpected source.

The Bantams made it back-to-back wins after a real scrap at the Lamex Stadium – and thanks to a goal from home skipper Tom Soares, who headed into his own net from Connor Wood’s corner.

It was backs-to-the-wall resistance at times from the visitors, who were indebted to a stunning second-half save from Richard O’Donnell to protect their third clean sheet.

Bowyer’s post-match reaction to punch the air in front of the City fans summed up the joy – and relief – at seeing the job through. It was a night that had shown the character he is building.

The Bantams boss had unsurprisingly kept faith with the line-up who recorded a first Valley Parade victory since March.

Jordan Gibson’s hamstring had not recovered in time for him to be involved against the club where he spent the second half of last term on loan.

There was also no Shay McCartan on the bench as the Bantams continue to carefully manage his return from injury after missing the whole of pre-season.

His spot was taken by Luca Colville, who continues to operate on a week-to-week contract with the club.

Stevenage have been plagued by horrendous injury problems with 11 players sidelined at one stage.

The casualty list had dipped to eight but that included both senior centre halves, who got injured crashing into each other at the weekend.

City found themselves camped in their own half in the opening stages but Ben Richards-Everton seemed a magnet to the ball in the box. The only shot Stevenage managed in that time was so wildly sliced by Joel Byrom that it ended up as a pass to the wing.

It was the visitors who conjured the first meaningful effort as James Vaughan latched on to Wood’s early cross with a swivelling shot that keeper Farman did well to smuggle away from his post.

Richards-Everton continued to be in the thick of it with a well-timed sliding block as Kurtis Guthrie pulled the trigger in the City box.

Stevenage did fashion an opening on 19 minutes but it probably fell to the wrong man, right back Luther James-Wildin looping a header comfortably over from Danny Newton’s deep centre.

Home boss Dino Maamria was perpetual motion on the touchline, bouncing up and down constantly and barking instructions.

In contrast, the suited and booted Bowyer stood still with hands in pockets.

Maamria was straight over into fourth official Isaac Searle’s ear when Guthrie went down under a Richards-Everton challenge and rookie ref Chris Pollard waved away the home penalty shouts.

But Bowyer was forced into a change just before the half hour when Adam Henley limped off with a groin injury.

Hope Akpan took his place with Wood dropping to left back.

Matty Palmer whipped a testing ball into the Stevenage box but the stretching Vaughan was unable to make a proper contact.

Then Anthony O’Connor was well positioned to snuff out a Newton drive after Richards-Everton was shaken off for once.

City won their first corner three minutes before half-time – and it resulted in the breakthrough thanks to a massive helping hand.

Wood put the set-piece right under the bar where Stevenage skipper Soares met it with a thumping header - into the top corner of his own net. As City celebrated their gift, Soares had the dubious honour of becoming the first Stevenage player to score in the league this season.

At the other end, they made it seven halves of trying without a goal – not even managing a single shot on target.

O’Donnell was finally called into action soon after the restart to gather a deflected attempt from Newton.

City enjoyed a spell of pressure with three corners and a free-kick in as many minutes as they hunted a second. Stevenage caused plenty of mirth among the away fans behind the goal when the defence held hands to keep their line.

Vaughan got something on Wood’s cross in a ruck of players but could not guide it towards goal. The Bantams captain then created space for Danny Devine but his half-volley flew well wide.

The pre-match fear of Paul Taylor scoring against his old club proved foundless as he was subbed on the hour, although the chorus in his name was dusted off by the City support when he went off.

But Stevenage thought they had equalised minutes later – only to be denied by a sensational piece of goalkeeping.

Newton was probably tempted to start celebrating when he met Chris Stokes’ cross with a booming downward header.

But O’Donnell was equal to it, plunging low to scoop the ball away on the bounce with a strong left hand.

It was a save as big as a goal. The City keeper, with two clean sheets out of three under his belt, demonstrated his growing confidence as he looks to bury the bad memories of last season.

Newton, meanwhile, stomped the ground in frustration at seeing Stevenage’s goal drought extended.

But the home side were clearly lifted by that close call as the pressure began to mount and Guthrie headed wide from a Byrom cross.

Stevenage sub Ben Kennedy then fired goalwards from distance but O’Donnell once again stood firm as City kept the door shut.

Omari Patrick had replaced Sean Scannell on City’s right flank and nearly got on the end of another dangerous cross from Wood.

But Stevenage were getting closer and thought they were back on terms through Kelland Watts six minutes from the end – only for O’Donnell to thwart the teenager’s audacious backheel on his line.

A free-kick 25 yards out further shredded City nerves – and Bowyer’s men were counting their lucky stars as Kennedy’s effort beat the wall and O’Donnell but pinged off the bar.

Patrick drilled into the side-netting on a stoppage-time counter as a chorus of “Gary Bowyer’s Bradford army” boomed to see their side over the line to three intensely hard-earned points.